Virgil van Dijk on Southampton bench; Hodgson names first Crystal Palace team
:focal(155x147:157x145)/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2015/03/26/1443747-30871907-310-310.jpg)
Updated 16/09/2017 at 11:24 GMT
Virgil van Dijk could make his first Southampton appearance of the season after being named on the bench for the Premier League match at Crystal Palace.
Virgil van Dijk warms up before Crystal Palace v Southampton
Image credit: Reuters
The defender has not played since January due to a serious ankle injury, and spent the summer publicly demanding a move away from St Mary's.
A transfer failed to materialise, and Van Dijk must work his way back into favour with both the fans and manager Mauricio Pellegrino after training with the reserves for much of pre-season.
Shane Long replaces Manolo Gabbiadini up front for Saints, while Mario Lemina makes his first start and Dusan Tadic returns to the starting XI.
Roy Hodgson's first Crystal Palace team features Ruben Loftus-Cheek who returns after a groin injury. He is the only change from the side that lost 1-0 at Burnley in Frank De Boer's fourth and final league game in charge.
Palace are still without a point or a goal this season.
CRYSTAL PALACE: Hennessey, Ward, Dann, Fosu-Mensah, Schlupp, Cabaye, Puncheon, Loftus-Cheek, McArthur, Townsend, Benteke... Subs: Speroni, Van Aanholt, Milivojevic, Tomkins, Lee, Sako, Kelly.
SOUTHAMPTON: Forster, Cedric, Yoshida, Hoedt, Bertrand, Davis, Romeu, Lemina, Redmond, Tadic, Long... Subs: McCarthy, Stephens, Van Dijk, Targett, Ward-Prowse, Boufal, Gabbiadini.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article